This is an interesting article comparing the White Nose Fungus that is killing many North American bats to the Black Death of the middle ages. The idea is that neither affliction is tremendously dangerous on its own in healthy organisms, but when those organisms are stressed it changes their mortality tremendously. The White Nose Fungus affects the torpor of bats. The fungus has been found in European bats for years, but doesn't affect them as much. It was thought that it was moved to North America by spelunkers
Biology students you can comment upon the ecology of that and also how losing a predator in a food web will affect the overall ecosystem.
Geomyces destructans, also known as White Nose Syndrome (WNS), is a fatal fungus that has decimated bat populations in parts of the US. It can be found on the bat's snout, wing membrane, and ears. The fungus can penetrate into the hair follicles and lead to ulcers in the skin. This disease is slowly but unfortunately taking the lives of bats in the northeastern part of the US. We need bats whether we would like to admit it or not. They are the source of extermination of unwanted bugs. If we lose our bats, think of all the bugs that would be around. For farmers, think of all the pesticides in your plants. We need bats!
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, there has been some relation found between this killer disease to the medieval Black Death also known as the bubonic plague to WNS. It is estimated that this plague was to have killed 30–60 percent of Europe's population from 1348 and 1350. The plague returned at various times, killing more people, until it left Europe in the 19th century. Now, Geomyces destructans is questioned to be a mutation that has reduced the damage towards humans. Being recently tested by taking an extract of the bacterial DNA from the disinterred teeth of the 14th century London plague victims, scientist have found that there is indeed a DNA sequence that is identical to each of the diseases.
For the benefit of our ecosystem, we need to find a treatment for WNS to keep our bats. We need them. They are helpless and need our help.
Daniela Araujo
AP Bio